Deciphering The Qualifications Of A Plastic Surgeon - Jacksonville Firm Explains

By Author: Lily Gamble
Total Articles: 37
Comment this article

Multiple unique qualifications exist for plastic surgeons, Jacksonville's Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery explains. Some, however, carry much more impact than others. In fact, some mean very little when it comes to choosing a qualified plastic surgeon for your next facial cosmetic procedure.

The most common certificate you'll see in any physicians' office (or most any professional's office, for that matter) is a diploma. However, know that a diploma, no matter the prestigious school from which it comes, does not make anyone a plastic surgeon. After graduating medical school, a surgeon must complete years of hands-on training, residency programs with reputable hospitals and specialty training.

For instance, Dr. Philip Garcia, founder of Jacksonville's Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, followed medical school with a research fellowship and residency in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and an internship in General Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York after graduating medical school. Another fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the world-renowned McCollough Plastic Surgery ...
... Clinic in Alabama followed.

Partner and brother, Jacksonville plastic surgeon Dr. Roberto Garcia, completed an internship in General Surgery and a four-year residency in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at SUNY Health Sciences Center in Syracuse, NY. Another fellowship at the McCollough Institute for Appearance gave him more extensive, specialized training in cosmetic surgery of the aging face and neck as well as cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the nose.

Licenses also are a must-have, but again, they shed little light on a plastic surgeon's skills - no more than having a driver's license suggests one is a good driver. Medical licenses are issued by the state in which a surgeon plans to practice and are not specialty-specific.

When you see that a plastic surgeon is board certified, that's a great sign. But your next step should be to find out which professional society granted the board certification. Both Drs. Garcia are double-board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery (ABFPS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Each requires extensive specialized training.

Other board certifications you may see are the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) and the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Each requires extensive specialty training, continuing training throughout the years of practice and adherence to ethical standards.

You may also want to look for evidence that your plastic surgeon has authored scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, participated in medical and scientific projects and trials, lectured on plastic surgery issues and advances, and developed new techniques within his field. Each of these suggest a level of expertise higher than the average.

Most of all, ask to see before-and-after pictures of a plastic surgeon's work, talk with other current and previous patients and make sure that he spends enough time with you and thoroughly answers all of your questions during your initial consultation. If not, find another plastic surgeon. Jacksonville's Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery can be reached at 904-247-8522.

As double Board Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Dr. Phillip and Roberto Garcia of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery are specialists in plastic reconstructive and cosmetic surgery for aging face procedures, rhinoplasty (nasal surgery), and eyelid plastic surgery.